Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for many things...a friend just encouraged me the other day to look at the last few chapters in Psalms (145-150) and consider how chuck FULL of praise they are to God for ALL things! David had been through alot to say the least yet his heart knew that God was worthy of praise despite what difficult things were brought his way, despite how life looked, despite of whether He could see God working or not. David praised God.

Why is it so much easier to praise God when things are going good for us? Job said "The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!..."Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" I am so guilty of this, oh I am full of praise and thankfulness to God when things are running smoothly and nothing difficult is going on or when there's enough money, etc. But I struggle to give God praise when He sees fit to bring me through tough circumstances...things that don't make sense to anyone, or when He doesn't do what I think He should, or when I can't see Him "working all things out for my good". Why do I tend to drift into doubt, fear and worry during the bumpy times of my life? Learning to GIVE THANKS in all things is a process...a journey of maturity that I am still on. Some days I "get it" and I thank and praise Him by faith and other days I don't "get it" and I ask Him "WHY?". But y'all here is where I am...here is where I stand, praying that I grow with Him in this area. Praying that I am quicker to praise than to complain and quicker to forgive than to be bitter and quicker to believe TRUTH by faith than doubt. Maybe today you "get me"...maybe today you're not in the same place. That's ok. Let me share what I have SO much to give thanks for here...

1. I'm thankful to be a totally accepted and dearly loved child of GOD
2. I'm thankful to have been given a NEW LIFE in Christ, the old is gone and my life is hidden with Christ
3. I'm thankful that I can by faith give thanks when my emotions don't feel the same way
4. I'm thankful that God doesn't lose patience with me even when I lose patience with Him
5. I'm thankful that He isn't finished with me yet...He doesn't give up on me
6. I'm thankful that God has blessed me with godly parents who raised me to know God
7. I'm thankful for a sister who is my best friend
8. I'm thankful for my husband and children who have made my life SWEET and BLESSED
9. I'm thankful for the experiences we've been privileged to be a part of as missionaries
10. I'm thankful for the dear ones all over the world who I am honored to call friends
11. I'm thankful for the hope that God has given me and the wonderful future He's promised me
12. I'm thankful to worship at Church with other Believers without fear
13. I'm thankful for God's Word, His love letter to me
14. I'm thankful that I am RICH in Him and that He has blessed me with all things to live a godly life
15. I'm thankful that I am not in control...but HE IS!
16. I'm thankful that my God is able to do immeasureably MORE than anything I can think, dream or imagine for HIS glory and my good
17. I'm thankful for each new day (filled with His mercies) I get to live in this "paradise" (on earth...cause it sure ain't nothing like heaven!) :)